Metaxas family papers ca. 1882- 1985 (box 2)

Title	Metaxas family papers ca. 1882- 1985 (box 2)
Subject	Greek letters Business China
Category	3. World War I 4. World War II
Author	Spiros (Spiro) Metaxas Royal Swedish Consulate Maria Metaxas
Keywords	greek Greek letters Greeks in Harbin naturalisation naturalised Australians debtors
Creator	Metaxas family
Person	Spiros Maria Gerasimos
Current holder	State Library of New South Wales
Period of reference	1929 – 1980
Link	https://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110315234
Series number	MLMSS 8870
Item number	2 (9)
Access rights	Request from onsite storage
Country of origin	Greece China Japan New Zealand
Place	Harbin
Language	Greek (Modern) English Russian French
Secondary languages	Greek, Purist
Description from source	BOX 2: Spiro Metaxas papers - Harbin China and Sydney, ca. 1929-1984 Letters, ca. 1929-1930, and correspondence with Royal Swedish Consulate relating to execution of the will of Evangelo Nicolaou Hatzopoulos by Spiros Metaxas, 1942-1945; Bound correspondence from Greek legation Tokyo, 1939-1941, regarding affairs of Greeks in China; Correspondence regarding debtors, including in Tientsin and New Zealand, 1956-66; Correspondence in Greek and Russian, possibly related to departure of Metaxas family from China; Folder with correspondence relating to naturalisation ceremony at Rockdale Town Hall, 1958-59, vodka factory joint venture and applications for trademarks and patents in Sydney, 1966; Specifications for design and construction of residence at 133 Hall St Bondi by John K. Noller Architect for Mrs Ahern; Folder of Spiros Metaxas correspondence regarding migration sponsorships; Folder of correspondence (greeting cards and airmail postcards) from Spiros Metaxas in Greece to his wife Maria Metaxas in Australia during trip to Greece in 1984; Folder of assorted greeting cards and letters.
Physical format	Letters Postcards Correspondence
Abstract	In 1953 Spiros and Maria Μetaxa moved to Harbin to direct the Antypas Vodka factory. Spiros was the president of the Greek community in Harbin and he was an active member in the Greek diaspora in Harbin. He assisted other Greeks in Harbin not only financially but throughout their immigration/citizenship process. Spiros Metaxas appears to be a valuable contribution to the Greek community and the correspondence between himself, valuable members of the community, consulates and embassies demonstrates he was a highly respected and appreciated member. In 1954 Spiros and Maria Metaxa moved to Australia, 133 Hall st Bondi NSW, with the best of recommendations from well established members of the community in Harbin. In 1960 Spiros Metaxas filled an application to open a vodka factory in Paramatta, Sydney. In 1969 Spiros received his naturalisation in Australia. Documentation demonstrates that Spiros received his naturalisation as the time he lived and studied in England was taken into consideration for his application. Documentation demonstrates his wife Maria did not qualify at that time. Box (2) includes an extended series of letters (written in an affectionate manner) to his wife who appears to have moved to Greece by herself. The couple did not have children, and they seem to have been happily married.
Date accessed	November 22, 2022